held up in touch towards rear, slow 2nd and not fluent 5th, 6th halfway, pushed along in 4th before 2 out, no impression when not fluent last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, went 2nd on inner entering straight, challenged before 2 out, led 2 out, asserted before last, stayed on well
always behind and never a factor, jumped left and soon detached, mistake 4th, no danger from 4 out, tailed off
held up in touch, inclined to jump slowly, pushed along after 5th, 5th halfway, headway between horses before 2 out, 3rd when slight mistake 2 out, ridden in 2nd before last, no impression, kept on one pace
tracked leader in 2nd, dropped to 4th halfway, pushed along 7th, 6th when reminders after 4 out, ridden and no extra after next
tracked leaders, soon 3rd, jumped big early, 2nd halfway, mistake 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no impression in 5th 2 out, weakened
led, reached for 1st, jumped left at times, pushed along and strongly pressed before 2 out, bad mistake and headed 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd before last, kept on one pace
Henry De Bromhead has won this for the past two years and TOP SPEED can continue the trend. A winner between the flags, he made all for a comfortable success over timber at Down Royal last month and can make a successful chasing debut. The Priests Leap has now had nine starts over fences without winning and has been well beaten in all recent starts after some initial potential. Takarengo has won over hurdles around here and made a promising start over fences on the track in April though that was on heavy ground. Desert Friend found 2m6f too far on his chasing bow at Limerick and looks best of Denis Hogan's pair.
Darkened (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Towards rear, pushed along in 9th over 2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 4 3/4l behind Star Kissed (9-13) at Roscommon 1m 4f hcp gd in Jun.
Desert Friend (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, headway into 4th 6 out, 5th and pushed along entering straight, no extra after 2 out, 6th of 11, 20 1/4l behind Toss Again (11-12) at Limerick 2m 7f Good - Yielding in May.
Landue 100-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, ridden and no extra before 2 out, never a factor, 15th of 16, dist behind Kiki Badger (11-12) at Limerick 2m mdn sft in Oct.
Takarengo (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Prominent, disputed after 1st, tracked leader from before 3rd, 3rd and slight mistake 4 out, weakened and slight mistake 3 out, 8th of 14, dist behind Too Bright (11-12) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f Good - Yielding in Jun.
The Priests Leap (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) In rear, 16th after 8th, ridden and no impression after 4 out, weakened before 3 out, never a factor, last of 16, dist behind Prince Zaltar (10-4) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp gd in May.
Top Speed (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Made all, jumped left at 5th, travelling well after 2 out, pushed along before last, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 1f mdn Yielding in May beating The Mediator (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 19 ran.
Bonarc (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led and disputed halfway, ridden before last, headed entering straight, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Can't Stop Smiling (11-4) at Ballinrobe 2m hcp gd in May.
